Talking the Talk: Experts, Officials Speak Out On OSHA's Proposed New Silica Guidelines

On September 11, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that a notice of proposed rulemaking for respirable crystalline silica was published in the Federal Register. Now, the public — most importantly those in masonry and other construction industries — has a chance to comment.

In a nutshell, OSHA has proposed new, more stringent standards for work-related exposure to respirable crystalline silica The comment period ends Dec. 11, 2013. Before you share your thoughts, here's what others — experts, government officials, and industry trade groups — have said about it.

"The proposed OSHA rulemaking is long overdue, but upon reading, it is clear that the proposal doesn't quite go far enough. For example, there was an expectation that OSHA would require employers to develop and implement written exposure control plans for construction sites. Sadly, such language is nowhere in the document." — Keith Wrightson, workplace safety expert for Public Citizen’s Congress Watch

"The masonry industry urges Congress to ensure that OSHA's regulatory focus is not swayed by bad science on the matter of workplace exposure to crystalline silica." — Mason Contractors Association of America

"On behalf of its more than 140,000 members, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) respectfully requests a ninety (90) day extension of the current deadline for submitting written comments, providing a notice of intention to appear at the informal public hearing, and submitting hearing testimony and documentary evidence in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica that was published in the Federal Register on September 12, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 56274-56504) (Silica NPRM)." —Rick, Judson, chairman of the board; National Association of Home Builders

Judson's comment was officially submitted through the Federal Register, along with other trade groups, industry professionals and private citizens. Submit your comment here.